In 2026, 48.5% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in West Virginia will face primary contests, the highest share since 50.5% of incumbents faced challenges in 2010.
In total, 48 incumbents face contested primaries across the West Virginia House and Senate. The average number of incumbents contested each election cycle since 2010 was 40. All 48 of the contested incumbents are Republicans. This is the second election year in a row with no contested Democratic incumbents.
West Virginia has 82 contested state legislative primaries in 2026, a 67% increase from 49 in the preceding cycle and the most of any cycle since 2010.
Twenty-two of these primaries are for Democrats, up 450% from four in 2024. Republicans have 60 primaries, a 33% increase from 45 in 2024.
In total, 324 major party candidates—129 Democrats and 195 Republicans—filed to run. All 100 House seats and 17 of 34 Senate seats are up for election. Eighteen of those seats are open, meaning no incumbents filed. Nineteen seats were open in 2024.
West Virginia has had a Republican trifecta since 2017, when then-Gov. Jim Justice switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party. Republicans currently have a 90-9 majority in the House with one vacancy and a 32-2 majority in the Senate.
West Virginia’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for May 12.
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